Celosia plant named ‘BKCELFLM’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Celosia  plant named ‘BKCELFLM’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; medium green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; bright lime green-colored flowers arranged on conical compound spikes; and good interiorscape and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Celosia plumosa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKCELFLM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Celosia plant,botanically known as Celosia plumosa and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘BKCELFLM’.

The new Celosia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new Celosia plants that have uniqueand attractive flowers, long flowering period and good interiorscape andgarden performance.

The new Celosia plant originated from an open-pollination in June, 2011in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Celosiaplumosa identified as code number 1401022, not patented, as the female,or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Celosia plumosa as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Celosia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment inMaasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Celosia plant by cuttings in acontrolled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since May, 2012 hasshown that the unique features of this new Celosia plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Celosia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BKCELFLM’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BKCELFLM’ as a new and distinct Celosia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Medium green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Bright lime green-colored flowers arranged on conical        compound spikes.    -   6. Good interiorscape and garden performance.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are taller than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are broader than leaves        of plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and the female parent selection        differ in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection        have green and red-colored leaves.    -   4. Plants of the new Celosia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia can be compared to plants of Celosia plumosa‘Flame’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newCelosia differ primarily from ‘Flame’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are lighter green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘Flame’.    -   2. Plants of the new Celosia flower earlier than plants of        ‘Flame’.    -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and ‘Flame’ differ in flower color        as plants of ‘Flame’ have dark orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Celosia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘BKCELFLM’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘BKCELFLM’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers during the winterin a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and undercommercial cultural practices typical of Celosia production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 17° C. to18° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 17° C. Plantswere pinched one time and were 13 weeks old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Celosia plumosa ‘BKCELFLM’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia            plumosa identified as code number 1401022, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Celosia            plumosa, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at            temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at            temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days            at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual typically            grown as a potted plant; broadly upright plant habit;            inverted triangle; freely branching habit with about four            basal branches each with several lateral branches developing            per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 29.2 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 33.3 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 7.8 cm. Diameter: About            8 mm. Internode length: About 3 mm to 20 mm. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:            Moderately glossy. Color, developing: Close to 145B. Color,            fully developed: Close to 151A to 151B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 11.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Leaf blade, smooth, glabrous; main            vein, densely pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            145A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A to            137B; towards the apex, tinged with close to N137A;            venation, close to 147D. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to between 138B and 147B; venation, close to            145B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Single rotate flowers arranged            in conical terminal compound spikes; flowers sessile;            flowers face upright to slightly outwardly; flowers do not            fully open and remain in flower bud form.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 5,000            flowers developing per inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 90            days after planting; flowering continuous from spring into            the autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences of the new Celosia            have good longevity and plants maintain good substance for            about 70 days; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 7.3 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 0.5 mm.        -   Flower height.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.            Shape: Narrowly ovoid. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 145C.        -   Petals.—None observed.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically eight. Length: About            2 mm. Width: About 0.3 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex:            Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, inner and outer            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, inner and outer            surfaces: Glossy. Color: When opening, inner and outer            surfaces: Close to 145C. Fully opened, inner and outer            surfaces: Close to 145C to 145D; color does not fade with            development.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one. Length:            About 4 mm. Width: About 0.3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 145C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.8 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Angle: Upright to about 45° from vertical. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster:            Moderately glossy. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen development has not            been observed on plants of the new Celosia. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 145C to 145D. Style            length: About 0.8 mm. Style color: Close to 145C to 145D.            Ovary color: Close to 145C to 145D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Celosia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Celosia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Celosia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and high    temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone    9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named ‘BKCELFLM’ asillustrated and described.